|
Evaluation of Top 20 Drugs: Effectiveness and Alternatives |
|
Rank |
Name Company |
Global Sales Billions |
Patent Expires |
Application |
Effectiveness/ Safety |
Alternatives |
|
1 |
Lipitor |
11.7 |
2010 |
Cholesterol |
Doesn’t lower mortality |
Magnesium, vitamin D, arginine, vitamin C, fish oil, resveratrol |
|
2 |
Zocor |
4.4 |
2006 |
Cholesterol |
Doesn’t lower mortality |
Magnesium, vitamin D, arginine, vitamin C, fish oil, resveratrol |
|
3 |
Nexium |
4.4 |
2014 |
Heartburn |
May raise risk of heart problems |
OTC Gaviscon effective in 84% of cases |
|
4 |
Prevacid |
3.8 |
2009 |
Heartburn |
May raise risk of heart problems |
OTC Gaviscon effective in 84% of cases |
|
5 |
Advair |
3.6 |
2008 |
Asthma |
Requires co-use of steroids |
Magnesium |
|
6 |
Plavix |
3.5 |
2011 |
Blood thinner |
No better than aspirin for prevention of heart attack |
Fish oil, magnesium, garlic, vitamin E, resveratrol |
|
7 |
Zoloft |
3.1 |
2006 |
Depression |
Helpful in 7 of 10 patients |
Exercise program, vitamin D, estrogen replacement |
|
8 |
Epogen |
3.0 |
2015 |
Anemia (cancer) |
May increase cancer mortality |
Vitamin C |
|
9 |
Procrit |
3.0 |
2004 |
Anemia (cancer) |
May increase cancer mortality |
Vitamin C |
|
10 |
Aranesp |
2.8 |
2014 |
Anemia (cancer) |
May increase cancer mortality |
Vitamin C |
|
11 |
Enbrel |
2.7 |
2015 |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
About 5 in 10 rheumatoid arthritis patients improve |
Fish oil, resveratrol |
|
12 |
Norvasc |
2.6 |
2007 |
Blood pressure |
Only controls BP in 1 in 3 patients |
Magnesium (calcium blocker) |
|
13 |
Seroquel |
2.6 |
2012 |
Schizophrenia |
7of 10 discontinue (side effects: drowsiness, weight gain, insomnia) |
Fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium |
|
14 |
Effexor |
2.6 |
2008 |
Depression |
About 5 in 10 patients improve |
Estrogen replacement, vitamin D, SAMe |
|
15 |
Zyprexa |
2.5 |
2011 |
Schizophrenia |
7of 10 discontinue (side effects: drowsiness, weight gain, insomnia) |
Fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium |
|
16 |
Singular |
2.5 |
2010 |
Asthma |
9 of 10 patients improve |
Magnesium |
|
17 |
Protonix |
2.5 |
|
Heartburn |
May raise risk of heart failure |
OTC Gaviscon effective in 84% of cases |
|
18 |
Risperdal |
2.3 |
2008 |
Schizophrenia |
4 of 10 patients improve (side effects: drowsiness, weight gain) |
Fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium |
|
19 |
Neulasta |
2.2 |
2015 |
Chemo side effects |
Improves 9 of 10 chemotherapy patients |
Vitamin C, vitamin D, Vitamin E |
|
20 |
Remicade |
2.2 |
2014 |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
1 in 3 patients improve; may cause pneumonia, infection |
Fish oil, resveratrol |
